Had an amazing experience at the CAC architecture tour. Our docent was incredibly knowledgeable. I…read morelearned so much, would 100% recommend!

I've visited the city many times and this is an absolute must! Such a great way to see the city and…read morelearn its history! Mark was an excellent guide and we enjoyed every minute!

We went on the architecture tour tonight. It was fun and informative. However, the amount of…read morespiders on the boat is ridiculous. When on the lower level you are hoping a spider isn't go to fall on you.

Took a quick trip to Chicago and the one thing I heard from everyone was to do an architecture boat…read moretour. Decided on Wendella and absolutely loved it! The tour guide had a good mix information, comedy, and quiet. I showed up a few minutes before boarding and easily got a good seat. 90 minutes was the perfect length!!

I went on the September 5th at the 11:30 tour. Catherine, our tour guide, was exceptional in her…read morestorytelling skills. She accurately described "the best" of Chicago and lead us on an incredible tour through the Windy City. Catherine's quick wit and charm made the experience memorable and exciting. 10/10 recommend her and this tour to anyone visiting the city.

A river tour is a must when visiting Chicago! We decided to do Shoreline Sightseeing, and it was…read moresuch a great experience. We were nervous because my mom gets motion sickness easily, and we weren't sure she'd be able to enjoy the tour. Thankfully, the water was calm enough, and she absolutely loved it! The views were beautiful, and we learned so many fun facts about the city along the way. Definitely recommend adding this to your Chicago itinerary!

Such a fun boat ride just chilling riding going in and around all the buildings and learning about…read morethe architecture and history all while taking Chicago in The staff was great and it was a nice ride and break from walking Lovely time

Such a great city for architecture, the very oldest building sitting next to the newest…read moreskyscrapers. I loved this tour...even though it rained and we had to spend part of the tour inside to stay dry without much of a view, it was still a great tour for the cost. We were warned to make a reservation cause the tours do fill up, and this was a holiday weekend. Do not leave Chicago without doing this!

The tour itself was great, and our guide was knowledgeable and did a wonderful job. We also had a…read moregreat experience with the bartenders. Unfortunately, the accessibility side of the experience could use some improvement. We had someone in our group with a disability, and it wasn't very clear how to access the boat or where the accessible route was located. We did find the ADA information on the website afterward, so we recognize that we could have looked into it more beforehand, but it does take several clicks to find and could be made much more visible. The wheelchair-accessible ramp is also about two blocks away, which can be especially difficult for someone using a cane or with limited mobility. When we asked the staff on the dock for assistance getting down, we unfortunately didn't receive much help. Overall, we enjoyed the tour itself, but clearer accessibility signage, more visible information, and a little more assistance from staff would have made a big difference. We noticed that the sightseeing tour across the water had very clear handicap-accessible signage, which might be something worth considering.

The volunteer Kathy was fabulous! How she could remember all the facts!…read more The architecture tour on the river was so informative and comfortable. Nice little bar either way snacks downstairs

Almost everyone you meet in Chicago who loves their city will ask when you tell them you are…read morevisiting from out of town, "Have you done the architectural boat tour?" People in Amsterdam will also ask if you have done a canal boat tour - and you have to do these when you visit these cities. Our docent volunteer guide, Steve, was excellent. He was very personable and extremely knowledgeable about the city's riverside buildings and its history. The boat staff was also hardworking and ready to help with any issues, from getting a drink at the boat's downstairs bar to handing out covers when the rain hit us. For what we paid, the 1.5 hour tour was more than worth it. I recommend sitting at the top towards the back, as you don't have to crane your neck as much when he points out places of interest. This was a truly wonderful experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Not what I expected overall but it was still a very educational experience. Scoring tickets to…read moreChicago's Architecture Center through our hotel, we used the tickets as a good time filler. Not a must see or do attraction but a great day filler activity as you explore the city. Loved the wealth of information they offer as it's valuable to understand Chicagos importance from the ground up! I thought it would be more about highlighting the amazing architectural buildings around the city but nothing like that. It's was more about the environmental impact the city has and the hurdles when designing buildings around town. The staff were friendly at check in and provided great service overall as they were kind and helpful. Small center that you may explore at your own pace and may or may not be worth the admission price. But scoring free tickets it allowed us to be selective in our day or day plans to include the activity to pay it a visit!

Booking an architecture boat tour is an absolute must when visiting Chicago!…read more We booked our tickets through Citypass which I recommend doing early as this tends to be popular and spots fill up very quickly. Our guide, Charlie was super knowledgeable and very entertaining which made the experience even better! He taught us about the history of Chicago and we got to learn so much about the city's iconic buildings. Highly recommend this tour!

Quick take: Must do in Chicago…read more Definitely go on a river boat tour if you are visiting Downtown Chicago. The tour guide was awesome. The weather was so nice. Not too hot and not too cold. Very interesting history and stories about all the businesses and buildings along the river.

While in Chicago, my wife scheduled an architectural tour on the Chicago River. In the summertime,…read moreespecially, this is prime time to take one of these tours, where you can enjoy seeing the different architectural designs of the skyscrapers built over the past 100-plus years. When we went, the weather was gorgeous, but it was hot since it was early August. Make sure to hydrate, or at least bring some sort of beverage, even if it's an Aperol spritz. Our tour guide was great and explained the history and stories behind each building we saw, including the Chicago Tribune building. During the 90-minute tour, you go west, south, north, then east along the Chicago River to check out the various buildings and the stories behind them, as well as others under construction, like the Bally's Casino. As a sidebar, that building is pissing off the locals across from it because it is now blocking their view. Make sure you buy tickets in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before the boat leaves, as the queues build quickly, and you will want a good seat on the top deck to capture the buildings around you and take pictures. Also check whether the staff creates a second queue as they take ticket holders from both at the same time, so if you are in the back of one, they don't go through that queue first before the other. In the summertime, the tickets will sell out quickly, so make sure you buy in advance if you're looking to take a tour.

We took a Saturday morning architectural cruise with Chicago line cruises. The check-in process was…read moreextremely organized, as was the boarding. We had great seats on the back of the boat and the staff was very helpful. After the safety briefing, we got underway. The guide was so knowledgeable about the history and the architecture of Chicago. Highly recommend! They offer free water, lemonade, and soft drinks, as well as alcoholic beverages for purchase. The tour guide was so funny and offered spare hats to the men who had limited hair on the boat to keep them from getting sunburned!

A beautiful day on the Lake Michigan. Had a blast on Veteran-owned FIREBOAT-TOURS today! Such a fun…read moreafternoon soaking up Chicago's history and architecture from the water. The itself was comfy and solid, and it's pretty cool to think this fireboat served the city's fire department from 1937 to 1981. Lucky us, we caught a perfect day light winds and clear blue skies. Thank you to Cliff, our tour guide, who had serious knowledge of Chicago history and a fun vibe was fabulous. The bartender, magic manning, was a total character, bringing good energy and making sure everyone had a good time. In fact, the whole crew was super welcoming and made the experience even better. Next time we are going to try the sunset cruise and do this all over again.

This fireboat tour was spectacular! My friend and I both had a wonderful time and can't recommend…read moreit highly enough. The length of 2 hours was perfect so we didn't feel rushed. We motored around near Navy Pier and on the river. While I'm generally not into architecture, the buildings were beautiful and interesting to learn about. I expected that the tour would include a recording of the information about all the sights, but the person narrating the tour did so live. He came up and chatted with all the passengers a couple of times. We felt very well cared-for. Word to the wise though, it can get a bit chilly so wear layers if possible. Highest recommendation!

This is a beautiful building. You can visit the lobby without a tour but the tour we took from the…read moreFrank Lloyd Wright Trust was excellent. It was more than just seeing the beautiful Rookery Building. It was very interesting to learn about the historical significance of the building and the architects involved with its design. Our tour guide, Jennifer, was excellent and her passion about the topic was clear. The tour is well-worth the time, and you are taken to see the Oriel Staircase and the Burnham Library at the upper levels.

Stunning interior that should not be missed by architecture enthusiasts. Literally breath taken as…read moreI walked into the main lobby which basks in natural light. So much detail everywhere yet beautifully balanced. It's Chicago's oldest high rise, the lobby updated by Frank Lloyd Wright. A private tour will take you up the circular staircase and second lobby level. Hoping to tour on my next visit. There's a small Frank Lloyd Wright gift shop on the ground level. Space is available for private events. I hope those who work here in the businesses never lose appreciation of its beauty. If you're a tourist who visits the nearby Money Museum, stop by The Rookery and prepare to be amazed!